Located close to the Confucius Temple is this magnificent glazed-tile screen wall featuring reliefs of nine different Chinese dragons. It was originally placed at the entrance of a temple in the early Ming dynasty; it was completely damaged after the Cultural Revolution and subsequently rebuilt. This is one of a handful of Nine Dragon screen walls left in China, and one of two in Shanxi; the other one is in Datong.
The Nine-Dragon Screenhas a wallpaper of blue clouds and green water, swirling and turning in the background. Sitting on a pedestal of white marble stone, or Xumi Base, the Nine-dragon Screen is ready to take off tp the sky. The nine dragons on the screen are sculpted in high relief. It protrudes at points around around 20 cm (0.7 feet) from the screen surface, creating strong three-dimensional effect. Only the emperor has the privilege of using the figure nine, and the "Nine-Five Supreme" is the reverence accorded to the head of the imperial household. There are altogether 270 items sculpted on the surface, and 270 are divisible by both nine and five. The design arrangement is exquisitely done to lasting effect.
Discerning visitors will notice there is a dark part at the lower abdomen of the third white dragon from right (east) to left. What happened? There is a story about it. When piecing together the screen, the craftsman accidently broke the porcelain piece there. That mistake could cost him his life, so he carved a similar piece through wood, made up the part and painted it white. Thanks to his excellent skills, the broken part was roughly the same as the original. The craftsman survived the disaster successfully. The problem, however, is that the white paint on the wood has eroded after years of exposure, and finally reveals the truth.
Hall of Imperial Supremacy (Huangjidian)
Walking across the Nine-Dragon Screen, the Gate of Imperial Supremacy and Gate of Tranquil Longevity, you will see the Hall of Imperial Supremacy (Huangjidian).
Hall of Imperial Supremacy is the main building in the Palace of Tranquility and Longevity (Ningshougong). First built in 1689, it was initially named Palace of Tranquility and Longevity. Then it was renamed Hall of Imperial Supremacy during the reconstruction from 1772 to 1776. Thereafter, it was the place for Emperor Qianlong to grant public audiences.
Usually, the names of the palaces gates always go hand in hand with the inner palaces in the Forbidden City. Thus the gate of the Hall of Imperial Supremacy should be Gate of Imperial Supremacy (Huangjimen), but how come it be named Gate of Tranquility and Longevity (Ningshoumen)? In fact, the gate’s name had ever been consistent with the palace. Late Emperor Qianlong renamed it as Hall of Imperial Supremacy, and changed the back palace into Palace of Tranquility and Longevity. Then the current layout of front hall and back palace took shape. In honor of his grandfather Emperor Kangxi, Emperor Qianlong kept the original name of the front gate.